Melinda West isn't just running for Garland County Coroner. From her days as a paramedic to investigating deaths alongside law enforcement, Melinda's spent years saving lives and serving families. She recently sat down with Tom Wilkins to share the untold stories of what coroners actually do, and why this office matters more than you think.

🗳️ ELECTION INFO: Early Voting: February 17, 2026 Primary Election: March 3, 2026 Learn more about Melinda's campaign: [https://www.facebook.com/p/Melinda-West-for-Garland-County-Coroner] --- ABOUT MELINDA WEST: - Deputy Coroner for 7 years, Chief Deputy Coroner for 6 months - Former Paramedic & EMT (15+ years emergency medicine) - Certified law enforcement firearms training - Teaches death investigation to first responders - Working toward national accreditation for the coroner's office

🎙 How VXV Events Is Transforming Spa-Con — Vendor Pricing, Admissions, VIP Passes, & Big Changes Coming This Year In this powerful episode, we sit down with Joey Mills of VXV Events to break down the real story behind Spa-Con’s new direction — and how VXV stepped in at a crucial moment to stabilize, rebuild, and re-energize one of the South’s most beloved pop-culture conventions. Spa-Con had reached a crossroads. Momentum felt uncertain. The event needed new structure, modern systems, and fresh creative leadership. That’s when VXV Events stepped up — bringing industry-level event planning, fan-focused programming, powerful media strategy, and serious organizational muscle to push Spa-Con into its next era. This episode goes way beyond the highlight reel. We dig into the behind-the-scenes reality of what it takes to run a major fan convention — the strategy, the risk, the logistics, the passion, and the massive amount of work nobody ever sees. 🔥 We also talk real numbers and real decisions — including: • Vendor pricing: what’s changing, why it matters, and how VXV plans to deliver more value for creators, artists, and exhibitors • Admissions pricing: how ticket structures are evolving to make attendance accessible and sustainable • VIP passes: what fans get, how VIP benefits are being enhanced, and why VIP experiences are becoming a bigger focus • Guest + fan experience upgrades: flow, programming, organization, communication, and onsite logistics • What to expect at Spa-Con this year: trends, energy, community impact, and major shifts in how the convention is operated Joey also shares insider insight into event rescue + revival, including how VXV rebuilt trust with vendors, stabilized planning systems, and created long-term sustainability for the convention. This episode is packed with high-value conversation for: ✨ Pop-culture & comic-con fans ✨ Vendors, artists, & exhibitors ✨ Cosplayers & creators ✨ Event planners & marketing pros ✨ Anyone who loves seeing a community-driven event come back stronger If you love comeback stories, event-industry strategy, creative culture, and big-vision leadership, this conversation is MUST-LISTEN. Spa-Con is stepping into a bold new chapter — and this episode gives you the first real look inside the transformation.

Cathy Caver's life story reads like a movie script! From a tiny California town with 13 kids in her class to building multiple successful businesses in Hot Springs, Arkansas - this conversation covers it ALL.

🎭 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:

- How she went from magic show assistant to spa owner

- Surviving not one, but TWO major recessions as a business owner

- The truth about opening a wine bar in downtown Hot Springs

- Why she married at 16 and what happened next

- Behind-the-scenes magic show disasters (wardrobe malfunctions included!)

- Her $100K leap from corporate security to entrepreneurship

🏢 CATHY'S BUSINESSES: Chrysalis Day Spa - 4332 Central Ave (21 years in business!) Splash Wine Bar - 325 Ouachita Ave (Wine, cocktails & events) 📍 Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas 💬 Have you ever taken a major financial risk to follow your dream? Tell us in the comments! 👍 LIKE this video if you love Hot Springs entrepreneurship stories

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#HotSpringsArkansas #Entrepreneur #SmallBusiness #WomenInBusiness #TomCast #BusinessPodcast #ArkansasBusiness #StartupStory #MagicShow #WineBar #DaySpa

THIS, THAT & THE THIRD Featuring Chris Smith | “More Than Just a Free Car — A Way to Turn Your Life Around Entirely” In this powerful episode of This, That & The Third, we sit down with Chris Smith, founder of the Show Them Through Me movement — a mission changing lives across Hot Springs and beyond. Chris breaks down the truth: This isn’t just a program that gives away cars. It’s a faith-driven, deeply personal journey that helps people rebuild their confidence, stability, and purpose from the ground up. From the nomination process, to life-skills training, to real stories of transformation, Chris explains how a single act of compassion can completely redirect someone’s future — and how helping others can change your life too. If you’ve been searching for an interview that’s real, emotional, and uplifting, this one will stay with you. 🔥 In This Episode You’ll Learn: How Show Them Through Me actually works behind the scenes Why cars are just the beginning — not the end Real success stories from families who turned their lives around Chris Smith’s faith, calling & personal mission The 10-week discipleship and life-skills system Goals for the next year: 60+ cars, classrooms & more How YOU can get involved, nominate someone, or help the mission grow 📍 Nominate Someone Pick up an application at Western Auto in Hot Springs. Submit nominations through a church or nonprofit — no walk-ins accepted. 🌐 Learn More / Donate / Support Visit: https://showthemthroughme.com 💬 Call to Action Comment below: “I BELIEVE IN THIS MISSION” if this interview moved you. Your engagement helps this nonprofit reach more families in need.

Tom Wilkins sits down with long-time friend, musician, real estate broker, and community leader Shari Bales — a Hot Springs native with a life story full of grit, redemption, and purpose. Born right here in Hot Springs and raised in a lively family of nine siblings, Shari’s journey starts with one of the most remarkable backstories ever shared on the show: her father learning to paint inside Folsom Prison during the era of Johnny Cash’s legendary performance. From sneaking out as a teenager to landing her first real performance job at the famous Five Star Dinner Theatre, to becoming a touring musician across multiple states, Shari built a life around music, faith, and community. Today, she is running for Garland County Assessor, advocating for transparency, compassion, and helping homeowners understand the tax credits and benefits they’re entitled to — something she sees lacking daily in her real estate career.

In this episode, Shari shares:

✅ Her Hot Springs childhood and massive family

✅ Her father’s unbelievable redemption story from Folsom Prison

✅ How music changed her life starting at age 16

✅ Touring, performing, and recording in Nashville

✅ Her connection with the Huckabee family

✅ The major problems inside the current Assessor’s Office

✅ Why she believes compassion should drive public service

✅ Her mission to help seniors, veterans, and homeowners save money

If you love Hot Springs stories, local leadership, music, or simply an inspiring life journey, this episode is one you won’t forget.

🔥 Make sure to like, share, and subscribe for more Arkansas stories on TomCast.

In this emotional and unforgettable episode, Tercero Muñoz of Suite P Productions joins Cory Fisher from The Crashcast Podcast to honor the life of Dustin Montgomery — a beloved friend, musician, and creative spirit whose story continues to inspire countless others. Dustin’s legacy lives on through the powerful My Hands to War album “Ursal Kingdom,” written in his memory — a hauntingly beautiful collection that channels grief, love, and the struggle for healing through art. Together, Tercero and Cory open up about mental health, suicide awareness, and how music and storytelling can help us process loss and spark change. This conversation dives deep into depression, hope, faith, friendship, and the importance of speaking up when someone is struggling. It’s raw, real, and deeply human — a tribute not only to Dustin’s memory but to everyone who’s ever fought a silent battle. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. You are not alone. 📞 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — free, confidential help 24/7.

Karen Boyd isn’t your average guest.

A healthcare administrator who spent years listening to Alzheimer’s patients share their regrets, Karen decided to change the script—for herself and everyone like her.

What started as a small group of girlfriends in Hot Springs turned into The Bucket List Bunnies — a movement of women reclaiming joy, chasing adventure, and living out the dreams they thought they’d missed.

In this unfiltered TomCast episode, Karen and host Tom Wilkins talk about: • The moment that inspired the Bucket List Bunnies at Oaklawn Racetrack • Meeting ex-Playboy bunnies and realizing “fun” wasn’t just for men • Balancing humor, friendship, and real talk about purpose • What happens when women decide to live on their own terms

⚡ Subscribe to Suite P Productions for raw, real Arkansas stories that make you laugh, think, and feel alive.

🎙️ Hosted by Tom Wilkins 📍 Produced by Suite P Productions Multimedia, LLC

#TomCast #BucketListBunnies #KarenBoyd #HotSpringsArkansas #RealStories #SuitePProductions #WomenOver50 #SouthernTalkShow #ArkansasCulture #InspirationWithAttitude

In this episode, Tercero Muñoz sits down with Friar James (aka Travis Gates) — the man behind the Hot Springs Renaissance Faire — to uncover what really happens when history, fantasy, and a whole lot of mead collide. You’ll hear about: How a small Arkansas event became a full-blown medieval spectacle ⚔️ The hidden chaos behind jousts, turkey legs, and chainmail armor 🏰 Why people risk it all to live “like it’s 1599” — even for one weekend a year The heart and humor that keep the Ren Faire community alive Whether you’ve been to a faire or think it’s just for “cosplay nerds,” this episode will surprise you — it’s part theater, part history, and pure human connection. 🎧 Listen now — and find out why bread, beer, and battles still bring people together centuries later.

Host Tom Wilkins sits down with Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick, a lifelong law-enforcement leader running for re-election in 2026. Sheriff McCormick opens up about his servant’s heart, his belief in respect for everyone, (citizens and inmates alike), and the tough decisions required to keep Hot Springs and Garland County safe. From cutting overall crime by 34 percent to building one of Arkansas’s top-rated detention centers, Sheriff McCormick shares how accountability, training, and communication have shaped his leadership style. Hear him discuss: Why “the buck stops with the sheriff” How doubling patrol presence changed public safety What “tough but compassionate” means in real-world policing His vision for the future of Garland County law enforcement This isn’t politics—it’s perspective. Real talk about service, integrity, and what it takes to lead with honor and heart. 🔔 Subscribe to TomCast for more in-depth conversations with Arkansas leaders and community voices. #SheriffMikeMcCormick #TomCast #GarlandCounty #ArkansasElections #HotSprings #PublicSafety #Leadership #LawEnforcement #RespectAndService #SuitePProductions

In this TomCast episode, host Tom Wilkins sits down with Dr. Laura Hollenbach, a physician who perfectly represents the art of modern medicine. From running a wound care clinic that helps diabetics heal and regain mobility, to serving as a pediatric gynecologist teaching young women about their bodies through Girlology; Dr. Laura’s story is equal parts science, compassion, and heart. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: How one doctor balances two medical worlds: wound care & OB-GYN Why there’s still an art to healing even in today’s high-tech medicine The power of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and how it restores tissue Why education and prevention save more lives than treatment alone How programs like Girlology empower the next generation of young women

🎧 Watch this episode if you love: Real stories from real doctors • Inspiring medical careers • Local heroes from Arkansas • Conversations that mix humor, honesty, and hope

📍 Filmed at: Suite P Productions Multimedia – Hot Springs, AR 🎙️ Host: Tom Wilkins 🎥 Producers: Tercero Muñoz & Stephanie Highfill 🌐 www.SuitePProductions.com Advertise with us! 📧 [email protected]